Allelo

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Allelo St. Petersburg: Mediterranean Dining on Beach Drive | Wine Spectator Award

Allelo

On Beach Drive in St. Petersburg, Allelo brings a Mediterranean spirit to the Florida coast. The menu, driven by seasonal ingredients and daily house-made pasta, moves from small plates to substantial entrees without losing focus.

To start, Chef Raquel’s focaccia arrives with house-made ricotta, thyme, candied pistachio, and sumac. Oysters on the half shell, gambas al ajillo with Florida pink shrimp, and a crudo with blood orange and balsamic pearls set the tone. The mezze platter offers pickled vegetables, pita, grape leaves, and a chef’s selection of meat and cheese.

Pasta is made in-house daily. Seafood linguine combines Florida pink shrimp and clams with saffron and lemon. Ricotta cappelletti comes in pappa al pomodoro with brioche crouton. Lamb Bolognese is served over radiatori. For larger plates, branzino is paired with preserved lemon and salsa verde, and the Joyce Farms half chicken is finished with piri piri, currants, and feta.

A tasting menu is available at $130 per person, with a $75 wine pairing. Courses include East Coast oyster with foie gras and caviar, beef tartare, rabbit agnolotti in sage brown butter, and Japanese wagyu with morel mushrooms. The meal closes with the Allelo Candy Bar.

Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm, family-style at $42 per person. Dishes include shakshuka, Turkish eggs, olive oil pancakes, and a Mediterranean plate with falafel. A caviar experience with housemade potato chips is available, and a mimosa service offers sparkling wine by the glass or bottle.

The cocktail list includes a Spanish gin and tonic, a Hugo Boss Spritz, and the Duetto, made in collaboration with Intermezzo Gin. Large-format options serve four to six. Wine is a focus here: the restaurant earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2023. The by-the-glass list spans Cava, Prosecco, and Veuve Clicquot Champagne, with still wines from Italy, France, Germany, and California.

The space includes outdoor seating and accommodates private parties. It’s a place for a full evening—small plates and cocktails at the bar, a tasting menu with pairings, or a leisurely family-style brunch.